Torstar Digital and Rogers Media form technology joint venture: Both invest to grow TOPS (Total Online Publishing Solution)

TORONTO, Aug. 4 /CNW/ – Torstar Digital and Rogers Media today announced
a technology joint venture to invest in TOPS, a leading edge, high
volume content management system for internet media publishers.

The Total Online Publishing Solutions system (TOPS) offers end-to-end
solutions for web and mobile media publishers. Established in 2005, TOPS
allows publishers to quickly and inexpensively develop and manage
digital properties with large amounts of content and high traffic
volumes. Its flexible data architecture allows diverse properties to
create customized asset types for any content they want to present –
including articles, locations, events, businesses, reviews, comments,
identities and other information. 

The Rogers Media investment creates an equal partnership with Torstar
Digital in managing and developing TOPS, under a joint board and
services provided by Torstar Digital under a management services
agreement.

“We have been working with the TOPS platform for a year to great
success. It’s an outstanding set of solutions for our digital
properties,” said Claude Galipeau, SVP & GM, Digital Media, Rogers
Media. “Citytv.com launched on TOPS last fall, as well as Flare.com and
our all news radio sites, including 680News.com. TOPS has vastly
improved the publishing power of our journalists and editors, our search
engine performance, and our speed to market. This investment allows
Rogers to co-develop a best-of-breed content management platform, and
accelerate its adoption for our brands.”

TOPS has been running thestar.com, one of Canada’s leading newspaper
sites, for over four years and Toronto.com, one of Canada’s leading city
guide sites, for nearly five years. TOPS also runs the sites of
Metroland Media Group’s news sites and Metro News of Canada
(metronews.ca and journalmetro.ca).

“Our value proposition to publishers is that we can build the site you
want quickly and then operate, maintain and improve it for you, with
world-class features at very low expense,” said Danny Galic, CTO and
General Manager of TOPS.  “We offer TOPS as a service which means you
don’t have to buy software, hardware or hire any technologists. The
publisher provides the idea for the site and we do all the building and
maintenance. Publishers who use TOPS really appreciate the freedom from
having to understand technology and hire technologists to realize their
publishing visions. They also appreciate the sharing of costs on one
infrastructure with other publishers using the platform.”

“We have been delighted with the TOPS platform and are thrilled that
Rogers Media shares our vision for continued investment and growth in
it,” said Tomer Strolight, President of Torstar Digital.  “Our
commitment to having world-class technology that allows publishers to
innovate and compete effectively has been core to our strategy and
working with Rogers Media will advance that goal for both us and them.”

About Torstar Digital

Founded in 2005 to pursue leadership in digital media for Torstar
Corporation, Torstar Digital is building a portfolio of leading online
brands that serve both Canadian advertisers and audiences, developing
innovative technologies, and creating a centre of excellence for digital
media talent. Torstar’s current portfolio of leading digital properties
includes thestar.com, toronto.com, Workopolis.com, Wheels.ca,
Flyerland.ca, eyeReturn Marketing, Olive Media and a variety of regional
sites.

About Rogers Media Inc.

Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI;
NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers
Broadcasting has 53 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television
properties include 5 Citytv stations as well as five OMNI multicultural
television stations. Rogers Sportsnet, Canada’s live event leader, is
comprised of four channels, all of which are available nationally and in
high definition, and the Shopping Channel, is a televised and Internet
shopping service. Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer
magazines such as Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Flare, L’actualité and Canadian
Business, and is the leading publisher of a number of industry, medical
and financial publications. All media properties are integrated with
their own popular web sites. Rogers Media also owns The Toronto Blue
Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, a year-round sports and
entertainment facility.